Ventura Lane Change Car Accident Attorney

One leading cause of car accidents is unsafe lane changing on busy streets or highways. Lane change accidents are often a result of a driver misjudging the speed of other vehicles or the space between them. Generally, a motor vehicle changing lanes can be at a higher risk of getting involved in an accident than a vehicle staying in its lane. If you got injured in a lane change car accident in Ventura, an attorney could help you establish liability for the accident and recover damages.

Who is at Fault in a Lane Change Car Accident? 

Typically in lane change car accidents, the motorists who change lanes are considered at fault because they have the legal duty to yield to the oncoming traffic. They have to judge the space between the vehicles and the speed before merging into the lane. 

Traffic on highways can travel at higher speeds than on other roads, so motorists can also be required to maintain extra space between them and the vehicle ahead of them. The law also requires them to use the indicator before merging into another lane. Motorists can be liable for causing the collision if they fail to follow lane change traffic laws. 

There are some situations where the driver changing lanes is not at fault for the accident. Here are a few examples: 

• In a case where two vehicles are changing lanes at the same time, both can be liable for the collision because they have the duty to act reasonably and avoid a collision.

• The motorist traveling straight down the lane could be responsible for the accident if they increased their speed to block the other vehicle from entering the lane.

• When a driver changing lanes checks to see if the road is clear before merging into the lane and another vehicle traveling at a higher speed than the posted limit crashes into them, the driver merging into the lane may not be at fault for causing the accident.

Damages That You Can Recover in Lane Change Accidents 

If you got injured in a lane change accident, you could seek compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. This includes monetary losses such as medical expenses, loss of income due to long-term injuries, property or vehicle damage, and other out-of-pocket expenses. Non-economic damages include the emotional trauma and mental anguish a victim suffers due to losses resulting from the lane change accident.

There is no cap on damages recovered in lane change accidents, but your damages can be reduced to some extent if you share fault in the accident. This is known as comparative negligence.

What Causes Lane Change Accidents?

Around 9% of car accidents across the U.S. result from unsafe lane changes yearly. Dangerous lane changes can lead to severe injuries for accident victims, including traumatic head injuries, paralysis, and more. The following are some common causes of lane change accidents: 

• Failure to signal before merging in or out of a lane

• Not checking the road conditions before shifting lanes

• Driving while intoxicated

• Driving between two lanes

How To Avoid Lane Change Accidents? 

Check Your Rear View and Side View Mirrors

Checking the side view and rearview mirrors allows you to know if there is enough space in the other lane to perform a lane change maneuver. 

Check the Vehicle’s Blind Spots

One mistake that can lead to a lane change accident is only relying on your rear and side view mirrors before changing lanes. If you only rely on the mirrors, you could miss a vehicle in your blind spot, which is not visible in the mirrors. To limit the risk of a crash, check your blind spots by turning your head before you proceed to change lanes.  

Signal Before Changing Lanes 

If you signal before changing lanes, the other drivers will know your intention to merge. Unfortunately, even though signaling to change lanes is a basic rule of driving, it is still a common driver mistake that leads to accidents.  

Yield to the Oncoming Traffic 

If there are other vehicles in the lane you want to enter, you should wait until there is enough space between them to change lanes. Even if you signal before changing lanes, it will not give you the right of way over the oncoming traffic. If you do not wait for the lane to clear before merging, it could lead to a collision.  

Avoid Crossing Multiple Lanes at Once 

If there are multiple lanes you want to cross, do not cross them all at once. Instead, check the road conditions before entering each lane and give the right of way to the vehicles already traveling in the lanes. 

Do Not Slow Down While Changing Lanes

Although you can slowly steer into another lane to prevent yourself from getting into an accident, you should not brake too hard before you change lanes. If you slow down too much, it can disrupt the flow of traffic behind you. 

How can a Ventura Lane Change Car Accident Attorney Help? 

A lane change accident can lead to a TBI (traumatic brain injury), spinal cord damage, dislocation, broken bones, internal bleeding, amputation, and additional severe injuries for the victims. Focusing on recovering from the injuries and dealing with the insurance company and legal proceedings simultaneously can be challenging. This is why you should consider hiring a Ventura lane change car accident lawyer. 

As the victim of a lane change collision, you have a maximum of two years from the accident to file a lawsuit against the liable party. However, an experienced lawyer can help you complete all the paperwork and procedures before the deadline. 
You can contact us at the King Law Firm when you need a Ventura personal injury law firm. Our Ventura lane change car accident attorney can help you prove liability in the accident and help you gather evidence to build a strong case against the defendant. Our lawyer completely understands the traffic laws regarding lane change accidents and can help you obtain maximum compensation for your damages due to the accident.